Hyderabad: Installation of a local regional Government in Iraq aided by withdrawal of US and UK forces are likely to be in place by June-end, UN official Shashi Tharoor indicated in Hyderabad today (Jan 7, 2004).

Speaking at a luncheon meeting of CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) Partnership Summit, Tharoor said, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had convened a meeting of the representatives of Iraqi governing council, US and UK forces in occupied Iraq to discuss the prospects of resolving the Iraq imbroglio.

Refuting the allegation that UN has become irrelevant in wake of the United States' unilateral invasion of Iraq, Tharoor, who is the UN Under-Secretary General for information said, "The two countries had come to UN to ratify their action and also on the question of oil resources of Iraq".

"UN plays a greater role in bridging the gap between developed and underdeveloped countries without involving itself in internal strife and political agenda of its various member nations," he said while speaking on the 'Relevance of UN in promoting international cooperation and mutual development'.

On the demand for enlarging Security Council's base, Tharoor said there was no such sign of agreement on the issue. "Diagnosis is there but no prescription has been agreed upon," he said.

However, an expert committee was constituted to chalk out a programme for initiating institutional renovation of the United Nations, he added.